The field of research focuses on the pervasive issue of plastic and microplastic contamination within global food systems. As the global population is projected to reach ten billion by 2050, there is an urgent need to increase food production by 50%, which places immense pressure on existing supply chains. The food industry currently produces vast quantities of protein and vegetables, often packaged in plastic, contributing significantly to global plastic production. Despite its versatility, plastic packaging has led to a substantial waste burden, with less than 10% being recycled globally. This waste transforms into micro and nanoplastics, posing severe risks to human health and the environment, including soil fertility loss and contamination of the food chain. While plastic pollution has been a well-documented environmental concern, its impacts on food systems are still in the early stages of exploration. This special issue aims to address these challenges comprehensively, focusing on sustainable and resilient global food systems through analytical techniques and mitigation strategies.

This research topic aims to explore the detection and reduction of plastic and microplastics across the entire food chain, from extraction and production to disposal. The main objectives include assessing the sources and impacts of microplastics in food systems, evaluating the effects of plastic usage in agriculture and aquaculture, and identifying alternatives to agricultural plastics. Additionally, the research seeks to understand the contamination of foods with microplastics, the migration of plastic additives into food, and the socioeconomic dimensions of exposure to microplastics through the food supply chain. By addressing these questions, the research aims to contribute to policy and global sustainable development efforts.

To gather further insights into the boundaries of plastic and microplastic contamination in food systems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Microplastic sources in food systems from agriculture and aquaculture
- Effects of plastic usage in agricultural production on soil and crops
- Plastic usage in aquaculture and its effects on cultivated species and the surrounding environment
- Alternatives to agricultural plastics and their potential effects on soil, crops, and human health
- Contribution of wastewater sludge to the dispersion and increase of microplastic loadings in agricultural production and marine pollution
- Contamination of foods with microplastics and migration of plastic additives into food via plastic packaging
- Microplastics in processed and unprocessed foods and their potential impacts on human health
- Socioeconomic dimensions of exposure to microplastics through the food supply chain"

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Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

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